Planning Commission backs ordinance to let neighborhoods protect historic signs

San Francisco — The Planning Commission voted unanimously June 2 to recommend changes to the city planning code that would allow neighborhood and citywide consideration of signs with historic or commemorative value even if those signs are not inside an established historic sign district.

The ordinance, introduced by Supervisor David Campos, would remove a provision requiring a sign to be located within a historic sign district to obtain conditional-use status under the code section staff presented. Aaron Star of the planning department said the department supports the legislation with modifications: changing the term “historic sign” to “commemorative sign,” allowing conditional-use authorization for relocating three‑dimensional signs and clarifying that designation under the new section would not by itself protect a sign from future development impacts.

"This sign indeed adds historic character to the neighborhood," Supervisor Campos said in explaining why he introduced the measure and urged a mechanism to protect similar signs in other neighborhoods. "The focus here is saving the sign and saving similar signs in the future."

A resident, Terry Milne of Bernal Heights, told commissioners the neighborhood had strong support for the change and urged prompt action.

Commissioners debated the best terminology for the new category — several members said they disliked the word "commemorative" because it conjured monuments rather than signage that contributes to a neighborhood’s visual identity. Commissioners asked staff and the supervisor’s office to continue work on a preferable term while moving forward on protections and procedural changes that would give communities input before signs are removed or relocated.

The planning department’s recommended modifications include removing the requirement that the sign be located within an historic district, specifying age and condition criteria (signs at least 40 years old), restricting signs that visually obstruct landmarks or vistas, and allowing the department to require conditional-use authorization for relocation. Staff emphasized the distinction between landmark designation processes managed by the Historic Preservation Commission and the conditional-use route for signs.

The commission approved the staff-recommended motion to recommend the ordinance with the suggested modifications and with an instruction to continue refining terminology and to consider adding clearer controls for removal.

What’s next: The Planning Commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for consideration as part of the ordinance process.